2 Families Displaced After 12-Unit Apartment Fire in Elgin

Two families were displaced after a Wednesday-night fire at a 12-unit apartment building in Elgin.

According to an Elgin Fire Department news release, firefighters were dispatched at 6:40 pm. Wednesday (March 7, 2018) to a possible stove fire in a 12-unit apartment building in the 300 block of Kathleen Drive.

Upon arrival, crews found an apartment with light smoke at the ceiling and indications that there had been a fire on the stove. Further investigation found that the fire had gotten into the wall behind the stove and traveled above the drywall into the attic space, fire officials said.

The fire was upgraded to a “Working Fire” due to the size of the building and the potential for fire spread because of the type of construction. The fire was quickly extinguished, in about 10 minutes, using a hose line.

Crews checked the entire building to evacuate residents and ensure there was no fire anywhere else including the roof.

Two people were taken to the hospital because due to a concern of smoke inhalation, but no one was injured in the fire, authorities said.

The two families displaced due to the fire have opted to stay with relatives who live in the area, fire officials said.

Fire investigators were called to the scene to determine the cause of the fire which is still under investigation. There were working smoke detectors in the building and that is what alerted the occupants to the fire.

Elgin Fire Chief David Schmidt reminds everyone about the importance of working smoke detectors to alert occupants of smoke and the importance of calling the Fire Department immediately in order to prevent injury or much greater property damage.